Photo of the Day

polar bears waving at the camera
August 23, 2015

Well, Hello There

“It was a surreal experience to be in the presence of these magnificent creatures,” writes Your Shot member Laura Keene of photographing this seemingly approachable pair of bears in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Keene says they stood and appeared to wave in greeting when a nearby pair of cubs captured their attention. Polar bears, she says, “congregate on the barrier islands off Kaktovik in northern Alaska every fall to partake of leftovers from Inupiat whaling [activity] before the Beaufort Sea freezes and they move on to hunt seal.”

Keene’s image was recently featured in Your Shot’s Daily Dozen.

Photograph by Laura Keene, National Geographic Your Shot
DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE